Toxic blue-green algae again detected at Lake Marratooka

Toxic blue-green algae have been detected at Lake Marratooka in Mattituck yet again, leading health officials to warn against swimming there. Residents are also asked to keep children and pets away from the area, which was home to the bloom last year.

On Thursday, the Suffolk County Health Department said Stony Brook University officials had confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria at the lake, which is located across the street from Mattituck High School.

According to a press release, “contact with waters that appear scummy or discolored should be avoided. If contact does occur, rinse off with clean water immediately. Seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur after contact: nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; skin, eye or throat irritation; or allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.”

Last June, the health department issued a similar press release asking people to avoid contact with the lake.

Blue-green algae are naturally present in lakes and streams but can become abundant, health department officials said. They can produce “floating scums” on the water’s surface that resemble paint.